Sooner than expected, these Swedes are back with a new CD. Regarding the fact that, the previous, “Folie à Cinq” was a very strong album with wonderful tunes and a great production… I was a little curious to listen to their newest, sixth, full-length work.
 
Having updated their sound over the years (they’re more than 15 years active) they managed to blend pop-rock melodies with a hard rock attitude along with heavy ala Metallica (the 90s era) guitars whilst presenting a rather contemporary, fresh, powerful, metallic, melodic, a bit “commercial” but straightforward amalgam of hard & heavy music. Another plus is the rough, heavy and crunchy production the band delivered with the help of Rikard Löfgren (Enforcer, Steelwing, Turbocharged, Vomitory etc.). “Death Is Certain, Life Is Not” picks up from where the band left off with the prior album… it has appealing tunes, dynamic rhythm section, potent vocals while except for their up-front tracks such as: “The Fallen Ones”, “Endeavor the Dark”, “Legion” & “The Enemy”, Sparzanza amazes with the last twosome songs, the heavy-odd “Ad Viventes” with the use of Latin dark choirs & the atmospheric yet catchy “When Death Comes” with the wonderful use of live strings. This album is a step ahead for the band any way you slice it.
 
Certainly, the fans of the band will dig this new CD and the new ones that should come across the band will definitely find something interesting and alluring here. Sparzanza is a band that expanses its audience with each new album and that’s the case here once again. “Death Is Certain, Life Is Not” is one more terrific addition to the band’s catalogue…